The U.S. Geological Survey and the ANSS both reported a 3.0-magnitude earthquake epicentered in southwestern Wyoming in Sweetwater County on February 9, 2012. Shortly thereafter, both websites removed all mentions of such a quake, and nothing more has been said about it. The area is rich in trona, a rare mineral, that is heavily mined throughout that region. The area claims it is the “Trona Capitol of the World,” and in 1995, a trona mine collapse caused one of Wyoming’s biggest historic earthquakes, killing one miner.
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Disappearing 3.0-Magnitude Earthquake in Wyoming
At approximately 22:45:19 UTC on February 9, 2012, a 3.0-magnitude earthquake occurred in Sweetwater County, Wyoming, which was reported on both the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) websites, neither of which now list any evidence of such an earthquake having occurred.
On Thursday, February 9, 2012, at 22:45:19 UTC, official reports from both the USGS and ANSS detailed a 3.0-magnitude earthquake that occurred in southwestern Wyoming at coordinates 41.450 north and 108.881 west, which places it within Sweetwater County. The area where the quake occurred is within 9 miles of a Scientology Bunker which was supposedly built to house the writings of L. Ron Hubbard. There is also a dormant volcano (Emmons Cone) and large mining operation in the area as well. The epicenter of the earthquake is just over 200 miles south of Yellowstone National Park and the Yellowstone Supervolcano.
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBSZJrxRzUk&feature=uploademail
According to a study conducted by the Wyoming State Geological Survey, the area where the earthquake occurred has experienced 30 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or greater since 1888. Recent activity occurred in 2000, with two earthquakes, a 4.0 and 3.2, occurring in Sweetwater County. Sweetwater County is considered the Trona Mining Capitol of the World, and Wyoming has the world’s largest deposits of trona, a rare mineral. Trona is a water-bearing sodium carbonate bearing compound which is mined underground. It is processed into soda ash or bicarbonate of soda for a variety of uses, including environmental protection.
One of the largest historic earthquakes in southwestern Wyoming occurred on February 3, 1995, near Little America. The quake registered 5.3 in magnitude, and was associated with the collapse of a trona mine in the area, with one miner losing his life. That quake was felt as far away as Rock Springs in Sweetwater County (where the 3.0-magnitude quake occurred) and Salt Lake City, Utah.
There is an active fault system that runs through Uinta and western Lincoln Counties, both adjacent to Sweetwater County. But considering that the USGS and the ANSS both removed their earthquake reports from their sites, maybe the “earthquake” was not a naturally occurring tremor, but was mining related instead. Perhaps an explosion or collapse in one of the trona mines was the source of the 3.0-magnitude “earthquake,” or perhaps something else occurred which is now being covered up. Unfortunately, at this time, there are no answers, as the “3.0-magnitude earthquake” that occurred in Sweetwater County apparently didn’t “officially” happen.
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